When your business completes supplier security questionnaires, these often influence how you choose and manage your backup and disaster recovery solutions. These questionnaires assess how well your suppliers protect data and systems, including how backups are handled. Since backups are critical for restoring your business after data loss or cyber incidents, the answers you provide can affect your risk profile and compliance status.
For a UK SME, failing to demonstrate robust backup practices can increase downtime, risk of permanent data loss, and damage to customer trust. For example, if your backup provider cannot show encrypted offsite backups or regular restore testing, you might face longer recovery times after ransomware or accidental deletion. This can disrupt staff productivity and potentially lead to breaches of UK GDPR or the Data Protection Act 2018, which expect reasonable technical safeguards for personal data.
Why this matters for UK SMEs
Consider a typical UK company with 50 employees handling customer data and payment information. When responding to a supplier security questionnaire from a larger client or regulator, they may need to detail their backup frequency, encryption methods, and retention policies. If their current backup system lacks multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access or does not keep immutable copies, this could raise red flags. A good IT partner would review these requirements, recommend improvements aligned with Cyber Essentials Plus or ISO 27001 controls, and ensure backup logs and access are auditable.
For instance, a managed IT provider might help the business implement daily encrypted backups stored in geographically separate UK data centres, enforce MFA for backup system access, and schedule quarterly restore drills. This approach not only satisfies questionnaire demands but also reduces downtime risk and supports compliance with ICO guidance.
Practical checklist for backup choices and supplier questionnaires
- Ask your IT provider: How are backups encrypted both in transit and at rest? Where are backup copies stored geographically?
- Check access controls: Is multi-factor authentication enabled for backup system access? Who has permissions to restore data?
- Review backup frequency and retention: Are backups performed daily or more often? How long are backups retained to meet your data retention policies?
- Test restore procedures: Does your provider conduct regular restore tests and provide evidence of successful recovery?
- Audit logging: Are backup and restore activities logged and reviewed to detect unauthorised access?
- Compliance alignment: Does your backup solution support your UK GDPR and Cyber Essentials requirements?
By addressing these points, you can confidently complete supplier security questionnaires and demonstrate that your backup and disaster recovery practices reduce cyber risks and support business continuity.
If you're unsure how your current backup setup measures up or need help interpreting questionnaire requirements, speak with a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor. They can help you align your backup strategy with UK security best practices and audit readiness, ensuring your business is better protected and compliant.